The Gerund

Gerund Exercise 1

Supply a Gerund or an infinitive whichever is suitable, using the verb in brackets:

1. Nobody wants (stay) with him.
2. He would not help (laugh) at his silly joke.
3. Does the teacher want me (finish) the work today.
4. She burst in to tears on (hear) about his death.
5. She practices (paint) every day.
6. They prefer (take) coffee.
7. The grandfather came (receive) me at the station.
8. She hopes (secure) good marks this year.
9. She avoids (meet) men.
10. Who does not like his children (wear) nice clothes?

Ans.:  

1. to stay
2. laughing
3. to finish
4. hearing
5. painting
6. taking
7. to receive
8. to secure
9. meeting
10. to wear

Gerund Exercise 2 

Change infinitives in to Gerunds in the following : 

1. The Hindus like to bathe in the Ganga.
2. To hunt tigers is a difficult job .
3. To smoke is a bad habit.
4. To walk in the morning is useful for health.
5. I do not fear to speak the truth.
6. I like to read books.
7. To see is to believe.
8. To criticize our neighbours is bad.

Ans.:

1. Bathing
2. Hunting
3. Smoking
4. Walking
5. Speaking
6. Reading
7. Seeing, believing
8. criticizing

Gerund Exercise 5

Follow the instructions given in the brackets against each :

1. He jumped up. He ran away.  (use jumping)
2. She saw a snake. She raised a hue and cry.  (use seeing)
3. Lata knew the answer. She put up her hand.  (use knowing)
4. We saw the Principal. We stopped talking. (use seeing)
5. Turn to the left. You will find a baker’s shop. (use turning)
6. The thief saw the police man. He ran away.  (use seeing)
7. They watched the aeroplane. It was flying over the trees.  (Remove ‘it’)
8. The police saw the dead body. It was floating down the river.  (Remove ‘it’)
9. Night fell. The birds returned to their nests.   (Use ‘having’ + 3^rd form)
10. The sun rose. The fog disappeared.   (Use ‘having’ + 3^rd form)
11. She walked a few kilometers; she got tired.  (Use ‘having walked’)
12. I went to school. Mohan accompanied me. (Use ‘having been accompanied’)

Gerund Exercise 6

Combine by using participle:

1. He took his walking stick.
2. He went out for a walk.
3. She heard the baby cry. She got up quickly.
4. He was scared. Hw had seen a lion coming.
5. The thief opened the safe. He stole all the money.
6. Bhola saw the tiger. He ran away.
7. The poet sat in his easy chair. He watched millions of stars in the mid night sky.
8. He ran in fear. He had seen a snake in the grass.
9. It was hot. She didn’t go out.
10. We were tired. We sat under a tree.
11. He worked hard. He passed the exam.
12. He finished his home-task. He went to the playground.
13. The sun had set. We stopped playing.